Ms. Marvel #3 Review

The last time we saw Kamala Khan, she saved a girl from drowning – but she was also confused about her new powers and got grounded by her parents. In this month’s issue she’s still trying to make sense of everything, and I continue to be impressed with this series. G. Willow Wilson is doing an amazing job. In the beginning people may have referred to Kamala’s heritage as a ‘publicity stunt’, but with stereotypes aplenty in our media it’s nice to see a series that’s doing something different. Kamala isn’t another stereotype; she feels real, and that makes her relatable for the readers.

The best thing about Ms. Marvel #3 was that it didn’t feel rushed. It shows more of Kamala’s journey from a confused teenager to her acceptance of her new found powers. Everything is depicted in its proper time, and the art is amazing, with visual gags everywhere. Readers also see her looking for someone to confide in, though Kamala’s friend Nakia doesn’t understand. Every superhero needs someone they can talk to, though, and Kamala finds herself thinking that Bruno would understand what she’s going through – the problem is that she isn’t speaking with him at the moment, because he told her parents about the party she attended.

Although no major villain was introduced in this issue, I’m fine with Kamala fighting street level criminals until she gains more experience. Not every superhero needs to battle powerful organizations as soon as their powers emerge, and I’m more interested in seeing her learn how to control these new powers and fully accept her destiny, rather than delving into ‘which villain will I fight this issue’ story lines right away. Her powers are depicted in a very interesting way, as they appear to include more than just increasing or decreasing the size of her body. One of the best panels was the one in which Kamala tried to change her appearance into Taylor Swift and ended up looking like her own mother instead.

Her religion was also touched upon in this issue. She isn’t the kind of girl to blindly follow her faith; considering the type of character she is, she has logical questions. All of this was handled quite well and I didn’t find anything offensive. There’s also a sense of humor throughout the story, and I think that helped with portraying issues regarding faith in a comic book.

As for the end of Ms. Marvel #3 – it certainly surprised me. I know fighting crime can be dangerous but I was not expecting Kamala to get shot. Can shape-shifters heal? I know Mystique from the X-Men has regenerative abilities, so hopefully Kamala has a similar power.

Additionally, in this issue Bruno’s brother referred to someone named ‘The Inventor’. Perhaps that guy – or girl – will be Kamala’s nemesis?

What did you think about the issue? Have you started reading these highly enjoyable comics yet? Please share in the comments!

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Masters in Psychology and an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Arousing the Legacy, Missing in Somerville, The Game Master of Somerville, and The Escaped Murderer of Somerville. He gives us insight on comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.